How a centuries-old pattern inspired a fresh take on interactive user experience design.

Madras checks are woven into South India’s cultural fabric—bright, imperfect, and alive with heritage beyond the Subcontinent. As a designer, I saw this iconic pattern as more than a textile; I saw it as a story waiting to be reimagined. In my recent exhibition, Lineage: PastForward, I set out to bridge this rich tradition with modern tools, using Processing-based generative art to invite visitors into the creative process.

From designing their own checkered patterns to watching a mechanical arm bring their creations to life, every part of the exhibition was crafted to involve the audience and celebrate the charm of Madras checks in new, unexpected ways.

Here are five lessons from the project that reveal what it takes to design experiences that truly connect with people.

1. Respect Tradition, But Build for Discovery

Working with Madras checks meant honoring its traditional structure, yet I wanted viewers to experience something fresh within each design. The exhibition allowed participants to play with the framework — choosing colors, line thickness, and proximity and adjusting the randomness of each design. This flexibility kept the experience personal, allowing each visitor to make their own discovery and forge their own connection with Madras checks.

Principle 01: Users appreciate familiarity — it gives them an anchor. But thoughtful design choices, like customization options or interactive twists, spark curiosity and deepen engagement. Creating an experience inviting users to explore without overwhelming them is crucial in balancing tradition with novelty.

2. Design to Elicit Emotional Connection

Madras checks evoke different meanings for people: memories of family gatherings, a beloved garment, or an entirely new discovery. Visitors could adjust the level of randomness in their designs, a nod to the imperfections in traditional Madras fabrics. As participants created their patterns, they could see the visual play of colors and grids reflect their voice and vision, enhancing the emotional connection with the fabric’s heritage.

Principle 02: Design isn’t just functional; it’s emotional. Consider how a product can allow users to project their personality and memories into the experience. Crafting an experience that evokes joy, nostalgia, or curiosity enhances user engagement and makes it personally meaningful.

3. Use Curiosity as a Driver of Engagement

Curiosity can be a powerful engagement tool in product design, which was essential to this exhibition. A wall of unique Madras squares generated by an algorithm and a mechanical arm that continuously drew patterns in real-time captured the audience’s attention and encouraged them to linger. Each framed design also showed what happens when you “break the rules” of Madras checks, subtly nudging viewers to explore the structure’s flexibility and potential.

Principle 03: Curiosity can intuitively guide users through an experience, especially when there’s always “something more” to discover. Encourage users to explore with subtle cues and layered details. Like a well-designed interface or interaction, leaving room for discovery sustains interest and keeps users returning.

4. Reinvent While Preserving Core Values

Madras checks have a distinct structure, and with this project, I wanted to respect that heritage while introducing a modern twist. The generative art algorithm allowed us to recreate traditional grids while pushing boundaries. For instance, we showed how slight, intentional imperfections could charm the patterns, honoring the original fabric’s character while experimenting with new possibilities.

Principle 04: Users appreciate continuity — a reminder of why they connected with the experience in the first place. When updating a product or experience, retain the core values that make it valuable. Innovation is most impactful when it builds on the strengths of the original.

5. Create Space for Users to Add Their Own Stories

The exhibition was as much about personal expression as it was about reimagining Madras checks. In one section, visitors could create patterns based on the volume of their voice — adding an unexpected, playful element of personalization. Watching visitors laugh, experiment, and sometimes surprise themselves was a reminder that design experiences are most potent when they invite people to bring their stories to the table.

Principle 05: When users can personalize an experience or see themselves reflected in a design, they feel a deeper connection. In Product design, design elements that allow for user contribution, personalization, or flexible pathways deepen engagement, turning users into active participants rather than passive observers.

About the exhibition

“Lineage: Past Forward” is an experimental exhibition that traces the 500-year journey of Madras Checks, from its roots in southern India to its influence across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. Debuted at the DakshinaChitra Museum in Chennai, the exhibition designed by Vignesh Hari Krishnan offers a unique fusion of traditional weaving with generative art and computational design, inviting visitors to co-create their Madras Check patterns. Supported by the Thinai Foundation, Yale’s CCAM, and Tsai CITY, the exhibition celebrates Madras Checks’ rich history. It empowers handloom artisans through open-source tools that blend heritage with modern fashion innovation.

Pattern Play: 5 Product Takeaways from Reinventing Madras Checks was originally published in UX Planet on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.